Blue Jays' Martin to start at 3B for 1st time since 2013

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

In a drastic attempt to shake things up, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will deploy catcher Russell Martin as his starting third baseman Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced.

"You look at that lineup, he's probably the best athlete on that field. We'll give it a go, Gibbons said, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com.

He added: "We have to keep his bat in the lineup. He looks great at the plate right now."

While Martin did appear in a game at third base last season, he hasn't started at the position since 2013 when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

For his career, the 34-year-old veteran has played 16 games at the hot corner and has made 10 starts, eight of which came with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008.

The Blue Jays are currently without regular third baseman Josh Donaldson (calf) and recently lost starting shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to a hamstring injury. Temporarily manning the positions have been Darwin Barney, Chris Coghlan, and Ryan Goins, with Martin now the fourth player to get a start at third since Donaldson was placed on the 10-day disabled list.

Starting at catcher, Martin's typical position, is Jarrod Saltalamacchia who recently ended a streak of 12 straight strikeouts, breaking a Blue Jays record. Goins will be the starter at shortstop with Barney at second base.